Slicing machine



Jan. 7, I930. w. J. CAMPBELL 'SLICING MACHINE Filed'Maroh 5. 192a 4sneets-sn et 1 [/2 V672 {0/ My? JQ/W M/Z Jan. f7, 1930. w. .1. CAMPBELL SLICING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wag??? 7% M Jan. 7, 1930. w. J. CAMPBELL 1,742,575

SLIGING MACHINE I I Filed March 5, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 7, 1 30- w. JCAMPBEL'L 1,14 ,515

SLICING MACHINE Filed March 5,- 1928 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL, OF- INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SLICING MACHINE Application filed larch 5, 1928. Serial No.'258,168.

6 machine of the type described, wherein a particularly accurate adjustment of the gauge plate is possible. Another object is the p r' vision of means for adjusting the gauge plate in relation to the opposed meat carrier. An-

other object is the provision of means for ad justing the gauge plate to mask the otherwlse exposed edge of the rotary knife and to permit ready cleaning. of the gauge plate. Another ob'ect is the provision of means for movingt e gauge plate angularly toward and away from the knife and for preventing movement of the gauge plate when adjusted. Other objects will appear from .time to time in the course of the'specification and claims. I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically 1n the accompanying drawings, wherein' T Figure 1 is a rear elevation; Figure 2 is an end elevation;

. 2 Figure 3 is a plan view on an enlarged scale with parts in horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 with parts in diflerent positions;

Fi of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a'section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an elevation of a variant form; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation with parts in section.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

A generally indicates any suitable base frame or member provided for example with anti-frictional and noise-deadening studs or pads A .Mounted upon such 'base member is any suitable motor means, herein shown as the motor B, from which rojects the motor shaft B on which is the driving pulley B adapted to engage and drive the belt B herein shown as of wedge shaped cross-section to engage re 5 is a section along the line 55- the inclined faces of the channel B on the pulley B A C is an upwardly projecting housing'or frame member mounted uponthe'base A and including the shield portion C and the knife supporting sleeve C Rotatably mounted within the sleeve portion in any suitable manner is the knife shaft D which carries a'channeledpulley D adapted to receive about it the belt B E is a knife disc secured to the enlarged end portion D on theshaft D for example by the screw E and additionally secured against rotation for example by the screws E The, knife disc is shown as convex and is peripherally cut away'or recessed on its hollow face as at E to leave a peripheral project-ion E Mounted on the forward face of the frame member G is the fixed guard plate F. At its left edge, as shown in Figure 1, it is arcuately cut away as at F, the arcuate portion penetrating or seating closely within the de- 'pressionE of the knife E, the axis of the knife being slightly 1 tilted in a horizontal plane from perpen cularity to the plate, as shown in Figure 3, to bring the edge of the knife forward into the position shown in such figure, generally in the plane of. the guard plat F. x G is a track, herein shown as of circular so cross-section, mounted for example on the supports G upwardly projectin from the opposite ends of the base A. Xligned beneath the track G is any suitable slide or rail G herein shown as of rectangular cross- 35 section.

Mounted for movement along the track G and the rail G is any suitable carriage or supporting member herein shown as including a body portion H and a meat engaging member H such meat engaging member including abroad face H slightly inclined to the hori zontal and a narrower face H sharply inclined to the horizontal, the two being gen-- erally perpendicular to each other. Down wardly depending from the body portion His an arm or slide H, with a depending finger H adapted to'engage'one side of the slide G Removably secured to the arm Htis a finger or enclosing member H in which is any we H are any suitable buffer members adapted to contact the posts G at each end of the excursion of the carriage, and H is any suitable handle for the manual movement of the carriage. j j

J is a face plate or pusher provided with a handle J and guide pins J said guide pins being in alignment with and received by apertures J 3 in the carriage H; j

K is a frame or housing memberupwardly projecting from the base A. Said housing may be integral with the base as shown and may carry any suitable control switch I for controlling the current to the motor B. The walls of the generally rectangular shaped housing member K are provided with an inwardly projecting irregularly shaped flange K the purpose for which will later appear.

L generally indicates a gauge plate'proper, including an upwardly extending auge plate L}, the surface of which may be slightly convex or bowed to conform to the cutting edge of the knife E since the cutting portion of the knife, due to the angle at which it is set, is not in a vertical plane but is slightly bowed forward. The right edge of said gauge plate as shown in Figure 1 may be arcuately formed as at L generally concen trically with the arcuate portion F of the fixed guard plate. L is a laterally projecting housing lntegral with the gauge plate L which supports an inwardly projecting irregularly shaped fiangeL said flange being generally at right angles to the vertical gauge plate. The flange L is provided at its lower face with two elongated bosses L adapted to engage the opposed bosses M of the member M, secured to each other by screws M The member M is dished as at M to form an oil pocket and is provided with a plurality of up- M. M is any suitable worm ear secured to the shaft M and positioned etween the bearings M M, the boss M of sald worm gear being preferably held in frictional engagement with the bearing M by means of .the coil spring M about the shaft, held between the bearing member M" and the worm M It will be seen from the drawings, 'and for example from Fig. 4, that the angle or form of the opposed rack and worm are such that no normal thrust against the gauge plate will have anyperceptible tendency to cause rotat ion of the shaft M or the knob M.

The worm gear, herein shown with a double thread, though any other single or multiple threaded worm may be used, is in mesh with a rack bar N of circular cross-section, which supports the member M bymeans of the bearing members M M The rack bar or rail N-is su ported and secured upon the flange K of 't 1e frame K by the screws N N as illustrated in Figure 6, N is an oil pad positioned within the oil pocket M" and is in contact with the underneath portion of the rackv bar N. N is a lug downwardly projecting and integral with the bearing M to which is fastened one end of a coil spring N". The opposite end of said spring is secured to an angular member N supported by the screw N its purpose being to hold the gauge 'plate rigidly at any point of ad'- ustment. Q

It will be understood that-the gauge plate assembly is moved along its supporting rack bar N by manipulating the external handle M which rotates the worm gear M the teeth of which move along and between the opposed teeth N of the rack bar N, the results being that the gauge plate is moved towards or away from the knife, depending on the direction of rotation of the worm gear. Rocking motion of the gauge plate assembly is prevented by means of the bearing members or ins N engagingthe elongated bearing sur aces or bosses N downwardly projecting from the flange L. I prefer'to have one of such bearing members'on each side of the supporting rack bar as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The'pins N are held in the threaded bosses N7 integral with the flange K and are adjustable by means of the screws N and lock nuts N.

It will be understood that when the gauge plate is advanced to the position shown in Figure "3, it masks the cutting edge of the knife and is in what I may call'neutral position. The operator can then clean the face of the gauge plate and, in order to prevent possibility of the gauge plate slipping back and exposing the edgeof the knife, I provide locking means for the shaft M as shown'particularly in Figures 3, 4 and 7. Referring to such figures, O is a slot in the collar or sleeve 0 which is mounted upon the shaft M by any suitable means forexample by a set screw 0 Y 'O is a recess in the bearing member M, in which is mounted the locking ball 0 normally outwardly thrust by the spring 0. The location of the slot 0 1s such that when the gauge plate is, in neutral position, the slot 0 overlies the aperture 0 and receives the lock ball 0. The locking effect is sufficient to prevent unintended rotation of the shaft and collar for example by unintended contact of thearm or body with the handle M It will be seen from the drawings that the rack bar N is set at an angle in relation to the face of the gauge plate and preferably is set at an angle of 45. I may limit the travel of the gauge assembly, for example by the pin P secured to the collar 0 which engages a pin P on the bearing M in the neutral position and'at the furthest point of travel of the gauge plate.

S is a cover or closure member, supported by the housing C and protecting a portion of the rotating knife E, said cover S being extended only slightly as at S to allow a clear view of the opposite side of the operator.

Referring to Figures 8 and9, I illustrate a variation of my device inwhich in the place of the gauge plate L shown in Figures 1 and 2 as integral with the supporting structure L", I employ a separate and separately adjustable gauge plate L adjustable in relation to L. It is shown for example in Figure 9,,as supported upon the forward and upwardly projecting portion L integral with or associated with the portion L. Any suitable adjusting meansdmay be employed but. I herein illustrate screws L mounted upon the ortion L and passing through 25 the adjusting slots L and the face plate member L These slots are preferably of such dimensions as to permit movement of the plate L toward and away from the edge of the knife and also to permit some slight upward or downward or angular movement of the member L in order to conform the arcuate or-- tion L to the opposed edge of the kni e.

It will be realized that whereas I have illustrated and described a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and dis position of parts without departing from the spirit of-my invention, and I therefore wish 'my drawings and description to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my pre- 'cise showing. i

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: c

I provide a generally vertical normally fixed guard plate, arcuately out awayto permit the enetration or the exposure of the edge of tlie rotary knife about a relatively restricted arc. The plane of the knife is tilted to bring the exposed edge generally into the lane of or close to the plane of the forward ace of the guard plate, The knife is hol-.

lowed or sunk inorder to ermit its peripheral portion E to extend orwardly beyond the body of the knife and beyond the forward face of the guard plate. enerally aligned with the guard plate F-is the adjustable gauge plate L controlled by the worm gear 1t which inturn is controlled by rotation of the handle M. The spring N has a braking action in that it constrains the gauge plate support, and thus the worm gear to frictional contact with the rack. By thus urging the opposed screw threaded members into frictional use of the oil bowed to conform to the curvature of the exposed knife'edge due to the inclination of the axis of the knife or the tilting of the plane 1 of the knife out of parallelism with the path of movement of the carriage;

The gauge plate is adjustable, in response to rotation of the worm gear, and moves toward and away from the path of the carriage H. The rack or guide rail N, upon which rides the gauge plate assembly, is preferably set at an angle of approximately 45. Thus the excursion of the gauge plate in relation to the cutting 'edge of the knife is at a like angle. By using a worm gear and rack, I obtain a constant and uniform travel of the gauge plate towards and away from the knife edge and carriage in response to rotation of the handle M. The gauge plate is held rigid by means of the springs M N which assure positive frictional engagement of the worm gear teeth with the rack teeth, and rocking motion of the gauge plate assembly uponthe rack bar or rail N is eliminated by the precise-adjustment of the guide pins N illustrated in Figure 5. Lubrication for the worm gear and rack is accomplished by the pad N The material to be cut is placed upon the carriageHand is moved, for the cutting excursion, from left to right as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The thickness of the slice is determined b the position of the right edge of the gauge p ate L in relation to the exposed cutting edge of the rotary knife, the slice passing through theaperture between the knife and gauge plate and dropping upon any suitable receivmg plate, not shown in the drawings from which it may be manually removed.

' In order to provide clear vision for the operator of the slicing machine of the opposite side of the machine, the upper edge of the vertical gauge plate is kept comparatively thin and in addition I prefer to limit the length of the cover S, said cover overhanging the gauge plate only for a short distance. Note that the upper edge of the gauge plate L is positioned generally at the level of the lower edge of the removable cover plate E. Therefore, when the user of the device sees that the work being sliced lies below the upper edge of the gauge plate he can know that it will clear the lower edge of the cover plate.

It will be observed that every movement of the operating knob gives exactly the same amount of movement to'the gauge plate, in contrast to certainprevious devices wherein the gauge plate is swingingly mounted, on links or the like, and a given movement of the operating knob would result in a varying movement of the gauge plate, depending upon its particular position at the time of actuation of the knob.

The gauge plate may be adjusted in rela' tion to the cutting plane, for example by the raising and lowering of the studs or supports N, by rotation of the screws N. The adjustment, when established, may be fixed by the lock nuts N Since the members N are positioned at the front and rear respectively of the supporting structure L it is apparent that if the rear one is raised the top of the face plate will be tilted forward and if the rear is lowered it will be tilted back.

' Further adjustment of the face plate will be obtained, in the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, by the adjusting slots, shown as formed in the face plate, which permits the face plate to be moved, in relation to the support L toward and away from the edge of the knife. This adjustment-is frequently of importance, to compensate for wear on the knife. A certain range of vertical adjustment of the gauge plate is also permitted by the relative size of the slots and screws pass-' ing therethrough.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across'the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage "along a path inclined thereto, said means including a rack associated with said gauge plate, a rotary member in mesh therewith and means for rotating it. a

2. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and nieans for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, said means 1ncluding a rack associated with said gauge plate, and inclined thereto in parallelism with the desired path of movement of the gauge plate, a shaft generally parallel with the movement of the carriage and means for retating it, and a rotary member thereon, in mesh with said rack.

3. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, said means including a rack associated with said gauge plate, a worm in mesh with said rack and means for rotating said worm.

4. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage,.and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, said means including a rack associated with saidgauge plate, a worm in mesh with said rack and means for rotating said worm, the axis of said worm being inclined to the path of movement of said rack.

. 5. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, including a closed housing rearwardly extending from said gauge plate, a rack associated with said housing, a shaft penetrating said housing and a rotary member thereon, in mesh with said rack, and means, operable from without said housing, to rotate said shaft and rotary memher.

6. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and

means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, including'a closed housing rearwardly extending from said gauge plate, a rack within said housing, a shaft penetrating said housing, and a worm thereon in mesh with said rack and means for rotating said shaft and worm.

7. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, including a closed housing rearwardly extending from said gauge plate, a rack bar within said housing, a shaft penetrating said housing and a rotary member on said shaft in mesh with said rack bar and adjustable bearing and supporting means for said housing.

8. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a base member, a guard plate upwardly projecting therefrom, a carriage and means for moving it ing to the rear of said guard plate, and a removable cover member, -,overlyingsaid housing and the uper edge 0 said guard plate.

9; In a slicing machine, a rotary knife and means for rotating it, the forward face of said knife being recessed, a guard plate positioned in front of said knife, the plane of said knife being slightly inclined to the plane of said guard plate, said guard plate penetrating the knife recess at one side of said knife, a housing to the rear of said knife and guard plate and a removable cover there-- for overlying the u per edge of said guard plate, a carriage and means for movingit across the face of said guard plate, a gauge plate and means for moving it toward and away from the path of said carriage, said gauge plate being positioned, throughout substantially its entire width, out of vertical alignment with the housi'ng cover.

10. In a slicing machine, a rotary knife and means for rotating it, the forward face of said knife being recessed, a guardplate postioned in front of said knife, the plane of said knife being slightly inclined to the plane of said guard plate, said guard plate penetrating the knife recess at one side of said knife, a housing to the rear of said knife and guard plate and a removable cover therefor overlying the upper edge of said guard plate, a carriage and means for moving it across the face of said guard plate, a gauge plate and means for moving it toward and away from the path of said carriage, said gauge plate being positioned, throughout substantially its entire width, out of vertical alignment with the housing cover, the upper edge of said gauge plate lying substantially at the level of the uppermost portion.of the arc of exposure of the knife edge.

11. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of such carriage, and means for moving saidgauge olate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a. path inclined thereto, and means for adjusting saidgauge plate in relation to the cutting plane, including a plurality of vertically adjustable supports.

12. In a slicing machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with I the path of movement of such carriage, and

means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a pat-h inclined thereto, including a carrier member upon which said gauge plate is mounted and means for adjusting said face plate in relation to the cutting plane of the knife, including vertically adjustable supports for said carrier.

13. In a slicing-machine having a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carria e and means for moving it across the face 0 said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantialy parallel with the path of movement of said carriage, a support for said gauge plate and means for moving said support and gauge plate toward and away from the path of said carriage along a path inclined thereto, and means for adjusting the generally horizontal plane along which saidsupport moves.

14. In a slicing machine,.a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a gauge plate and a guard plate lying in generally parallel planes, the axis of the knife being tilted from perpendicularity to said gauge and guard plate, the cutting-arc of the knife being thereby positioned forwardly of the plane of the guard plate, the body'of the-knife lying behind the guard plate, the face of the gauge plate being bowed to conform generally to the contour of the cutting arc of the knife, a material supporting carriage and means for moving it across the face of the knife and means for moving the gauge plate toward and away from the path of the carriage, along a rectilinear path inclined thereto.,

15. In a slicing machine, a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for guiding across the face of the knife, a guard plate for the forward face of the knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with that of the guard plate and means for moving the gauge plate toward and away from the cutting plane ofthe knife along a path inclined to the path of movement of the carriage, including a rack associated with the gauge plate and a quick thread screw threaded member opposed thereto and a manual control member adapted to rotate said quick thread screw threaded member. i

16. The structure of claim 15 characterized in that a rotation of the manual control member through an arc of less than 360 moves the gauge plate throughout its entire excursion of adjustment, said control member being adapted, in response to any given unit or are of rotation, to move said gauge plate a uniform distance toward or away from the path of movement of the carriage, said units being calibrated about the periphery of said manual control members.

17. In a slicing machine a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a material supporting carriage-and means for guiding it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a. plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of said carriage, and

means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of the carriage, along a rectilinear path, said means including .a shaft, a manual control member for said shaft, and a gear connection between said shaft and said gauge plate including screw threaded members, and braking means, effective at substantially all positions of the gauge plate, adapted to hold the gauge plate against unintended movement, including yielding means for maintaining a predeter mined frictional contact between the opposed screw threaded members, said screw threaded members including a quick thread screw threaded member rotatable with the shaft and an opposed screw threaded member associated with the gauge plate. 18. In a'sli'cing machine a rotary knife and means forrotating it, a material supporting carriage and means for guiding it across the face of said knife, a gauge plate lying in a plane substantially parallel with the path of movement of said carriage, and means for moving said gauge plate toward and away from the path of the carriage, along a rectilinear path inclined thereto, said means including a shaft, a manual control member for said shaft, and a gear connection between said shaft and said gauge plate, said shaft being adapted to move said gauge plate through its entire effective excursion in response to the rotation of said manual control member through an arc of less than 360, said gear connection being adapted to cause movement of the gauge plate in response to rotation of said shaft and to prevent rotation of said shaft in response to movement of said gauge plate.

Signed at Indianapolis county of Marion,

and State of Indiana, this 23rd day of Febru- WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL. 

